Electric signaling apparatus and circuits therefor.



F. B. HERZUG, DECD.

H. HERZOG EXEGUTRIX.

ELECTRIC SIGNALING APPARATUS AND CIRCUITS THEREFOR.

APPLXOATION FILED FEB 10, 1902.

1,124,617, Patented Jan.12,1915.

FIEIIX BENEDICT HERZOG. OF NEW YORK, N. Y.; HENRIETTA HERZOG EXECUTRIX OI SAID FELIX BENEDICT HERZOG, DECEASED.

ELECTRIC SIGNALING APPARATUS AND CIRCUITS THEREFOR.

Specification of Letters Intent.

Patented Jan. 12, 1 915.

Original application filed April 8, 1889, Serial No. 306.474. Divided and this application tiled February 10, 1902. Serial No. 98,281

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Fnmx BENEDICT HER- zoc, Ph. D., a citizen of theUnited States, and a resident of the city, county, and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Electric Signaling Apparatus and Circuits Therefor, of which the following is a specification.

This is a division or continuation of a pending case S. N. 306474 filed on April 8, 1889, since patented on Feb. 11, 1902 as 693,013; and is to be considered as related to two other applications 93,282-% and 93,2839; tiled on even date herewith as co-divisions of the said original application.

This invention relates to signaling apparatus and particularly to such signal systems as comprise a number of outlying stations which are connected with a central station in such a way as to enable a signal to be transmitted.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a simple arrangement for connecting the apparatus in a manner to prevent confusion of signals from different outlying stations.

A general object of the invention is to provide a very simple apparatus for effecting signaling between stations.

A further object of the invention is to provide improved means for expediting the fllliltCilUll of the receiving instrument at the central station to the signal line which is about to transmit a signal.

Other objects of the invention will appear more clearly hereinafter.

The invention consists in the general combination of parts and simplicity of details hereinafter described, all of which contribute to produce an eliicient signaling apparatus.

A preferred embodiment of my invention will be particularly described in the following specification. while the broad scope of my invention will be pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view showing the general arrangement of the apparatus and a portion of this view is shown upon an enlarged scale illustrating one line signal which may constitute a part of the apparatus; Fig. 2 is a plan and partial section showing the device by means of which the different signal lines may be tested to ascertain which line is about to transmit a signal; Fig. 3 is a vertical cross-section through the device shown in Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a side elevation showing a plug or movable terminal which may be employed for making the necessary circuits; Fig. 5 is a front elevation partly broken away showing the mechanism of the receiving instrument; Fig. 6 is a cross-section through an instrument which may be used in the combination and particularly illustrating its mechanism, the function of which is to produce an impulsive current in a circuit; Fig. 7 is a diagrammatic view illustrating a form of circuit-breaker which may be used in the apparatus.

This apparatus is capable of an extended use in signaling systems, such for instance as are em loyed in hotels or telephone exchanges. he sub-station or outlying transmitting apparatus A preferably embodies circuit-controlling apparatus as well as apparatus designed to send a number of diii'er ent predetermined signals. A suitable apparatus for this purpose comprises a casing in which is contained the mechanism, the whole instrument being provided with a dial bearing a suitable index as for instance numbers for a code of words where this would be convenient. This index or signal cooperates with a pointer or hand fixed on a central shaft, for instance as shown in my Patent #693,013.

Within the case of the instrument, mechanism is provided to produce a step by step movement of the pointer. This is usually by means of a ratchet-wheel mechanism within the instrument which is operated by electric impulses to advance the pointer. In addition to this, means is provided for opening the circuit for certain positions of the mechanism of the instrument. For instance, the instrument may inelude a disk 21* which rotates when the hand or pointer moves, and which transmits current to a brush 25 when the instrument is transmitting but when the brush or spring 25 falls into a gap in the edge of the disk as illustrated in Fig. 1, the current is broken. The enlarged instrument at the right of Fig. 1 illustrates how the disk 21 cooperates with the brush 25. When current is passing through the magnet coils 21 and 25. the armature is attracted and its pawl 20 rotates the ratchet-wheel 21. Rigid with this ratchet-wheel is the interrupting disk 21*. In this way every'impulse which ener gizes the ma movement 0 the ointer of the signal.

The pointer which is rigid with the ratchet-wheel 21' may be moved by,ha .nd and set to any position desired and from any such set position a given number of steps in the same direction will be required to return it to the normal or zero position. It therefore follows that if'account be kept of the number of impulses sent through the magnet from the beginnin of the o eration until the circuit is lmally roken, t e tion of the pointer at the beginning o tic operation may be deduced.

In the diagram Fig. 1, three sub-stations are illustrated all connected with a common return conductor 2 by way of the branches 3, 10 and 3, and they are also connected with the battery K", by the signal lines 4, 4', 4" leading to the central station. Here the lines connect with electro-magnets B for controlling certain mechanism for opening the circuit to each line. This mechanism is illustrated in detail only for the line 4' but it is to be understood that similar mechanism is used in connection with each of the lines.

I shall now describe the mechanism used in connection with the line 4' for opening the circuit and will also now describe other mechanism at the central station for controlling the operation of the apparatus. The line wire 4 entering the central or receiving station divides into two branches, one branch 15' leading to a jack terminal in a suitable switch-board I, and the second branch 12 leading through a relay or cut-out drop comprising the electro-ma et B", and through wire 13 to a spring c osed switch device CD and thence by wires 14, and return conductor 6' to a similar relay or cutout magnet drop 7", thence through a suitable signal such as a bell or indicating device E". From this point' the circuit passes by a Wire 9, back to the battgi'y K". Each of the cut-outs or circuit-openers 7 is prefer ably connected with a group pf si al lines such as the three lines 4, 4 4 w icli connect with the cut-out 7" at the extreme left through the conductor 6'. The operation of these relays is substantially as follows: When a magnet 13' attracts its armature N, it will cause the drop bar M ti) tilt on its pivot M and thereby press against one of the members of the spring-closed switch C- D which will separate them and break the circuit. If the relay of the circuit-opening device 7" should be in its normal or closed condition. the passing current will also break the circuit at this point thereby opening the circuits for all the lines of that group, and when this occurs none of the ct coils 21 and 25 produces aother stations on the transmit a current. ndthis condition is maintained until the group ma et 7" is restored to its normal position. he magnets B" of the signal lines are preferably so arranged that they devices in addition to their function of controlling thecircuit. This may be suitably accomplished by having the outer ends M" of the pivoted drop M in the form of a target. A plurality of these group controlling circuit openers 7* may be connected together in any suitablemanner through the medium of hand-controlled switches 8 which are normally left closed.

The central station also contains a circuitcontrolling and receiving instrument E which may have any suitable construction. A suitable form for this,device is illustrated in Fi 5. Referring to this fi re, the magnet L attracts the armature suitably fulcrumed on the bracket E and retracted by the spring 1" against a limiting stop and adjuncts Q, Q. The armature H carries a driving paw'l J normally held in position by a suitable spring I to drive the ratchet wheel L" and in combination with a retaining pawl J held in place by its spring I attached to a post K. These parts operate in the well-known manner to cause the wheel L" to rotate with a step by step movement through the medium of the successive energizations of the magnet. In this way the wheel is given a predetermined number of advances or units of movement in a complete revolution. If desired, both pawls J and J" can be released from the ratchet wheel by lifting the bar H, which bar is provided with a depending arm I which engages the rear ends of the pawls.

The receiving indicator E is looped in be tween wires 17 and 19, the latter wire 19 terminating in a flexible cord to which a plug J is attached. The wire 17 at the other side of E leads through a rheotomic box or impulse producing instrument G", and the wire 16 connects this last instrument with a second battery L". These two batteries are connectedbv a conductor 1 to which the return-conductor 2 is attached.

The respective branches 15, 15', 15" leading from the line wires to the switchboard I connect with their corresponding line wires between each outlying signal A and its corresponding circuit-opening magnet B and they lead to jack terminal sockets a corresponding to each line.

The plug J" shown in detail in Fig. 4 is adapted to be used with this system and may be of the simple form illustrated comprising a contact N' and provided with insulation N and adapted when inserted in one of the jacks a to lead the circuit through the line corresponding to the jack. This plug has a roup can thereafter also act as annunciating 7 downward extension N" through which the wire 19 passes in so as to connect with the contact N'.

The construction of the cut-out 7 may be substantially the same as the mechanism de-.

scribed in connection with the cut-out magnets l3. One of the cut-outs 7" is illustrated in Fig. 7. WVithin the case which is indicated in dotted lines there is provided an electromagnet R and when the current flows in the coil of this magnet, it attracts the armature R and permits the dro R to fall. The weight of the drop forces own contact R and separates it from contact R with which it is normally in engagement. In this way the circuit is opened.

The general mode of operation of the apparatus is as follows: Whenever the circuit is closed at one of the sub-stations A a typical circuit is made as follows: From battery K through lines 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. 8, 9, 10, A and 4, thus passing through the relay magnet B", wire 13, contacts DC, wires 14, 6', relay 7", then to the bell F" thereby giving an alarm and then back to the battery. The passing of this current causes a break in the circuit at two oints, namely at the magnet B" and at the circuitopener 7 The effect of opening the circuit at the point 7 is to prevent any other signal coming in over any line of the cup of signals connected with that particular circuit-opener 7". When the operator at the central station wishes to receive the si a] which is announced to him by the bell F", he restores the circuit-opener 7 which has been thrown to its open condition and he then applies the toe N' in succession to the jack terminals a. In order to facilitate the rapid touching of these terminals, I provide a plate a near each terminal upon which the body of the plug may be rested so as to position the plug J" properly. This operation is a testing operation to determine which one of the signal lines is the one which is about to send in a signal. By touching one of the terminals a, a typical circuit is formed from the second batter L through 16. and then passing through the automatic impulse producing rheotome G" wires 17 and 19 and thence by the branch 15 to the line wire 4 and back to the circuit-closure at the sub-station. When the active terminal a is touched, the receiving instrument E will commence to move and the operator inserts the plug in the socket of the terminal a. The closing of this circuit puts the rheotome G into operation. A- suitable construction for this instrument is illustrated in Fig. 6. The energizing current flowing through this instrument passes through a brush Gr which makes contact in succession with flat headed teeth formed on a wheel G and the current passes from the wheel through an electro-,

magnet G and then through the armature of the magnet in a certain position of the armature to a contact G and thence to the wire 17. The armature (i has a pawl G which engages with a ratchet wheel G rigid with the wheel Gr and provided with a detent pawl G". The wheel (it breaks the current up into impulses and these impulses intermittently energize the ma net G This causes a swinging movement 0 the armature G Every time the armature swings away from the magnet it closes the circuit by con tact with G and the magnet is reenergized. Any suitable mechanism may be used to efiect the function of this device in the signal-circuit. At each impulse in the circuit. the pointer of. the receiving instrument E is advanced and the advance continues until the disk 21* on the outlying signal comes to the position indicated in Fi 1. This corresponds to the zero position of the pointer of the sending instrument. The current is then broken and the receiving instrument E" ceases to advance. In this way the pointer of the receiving instrument Ff will indicate the amount of movement which it has been necessary to give the corresponding pointer of the instrument A in order to bring it to its zero position. Hence the initial or hand-set position of the pointer of the sending instrument becomes known at the central station. After the signal has been taken 'in this way, the armature N of the magnet B" is restored so as to close the circuit and bring about the normal condition of the apparatus. It should be understood that while I prefer to open the circuit automatically at the point 7", this might be done by the hand of the operator at the central station.

One of the objects of connecting a group of line signals to one of the circuit-openers 7* is to enable the system to be worked with a minimum amount of current. The amount of current necessary to operate the magnet R of the circuit-opener 7* may obviously be divided in parallel circuits through several of the magnets B since all of this current must necessarily pass through the instrument 7" whether one or more of the branch circuits through the several magnets B are. closed or not. Ordinarily only one of the parallel circuits to the magnets 13 to its respective sub-station is closed at a time and consequently the full force of the cur rent passing therethrough would be enough to energize both B and 7 but if two or more sub-stations such as A" in the same group should close their circuits simultaneously for the purpose of transmitting a signal. the current being di ided through the sub-stations might not be sullicicnt to operate the respective magnet drops ll al though magnet drop 7 and signal F re ceiving the total current would 01 coursliiil be operated to indicate that one or. more members of its group was in closed circuit for sending a signal.

I have shown in Figs. 2 and 3 a preferred form of device for facilitating the selection of the proper sub-stations in any one group, that is for finding out which of those substations have been set for giving the signal, it being presumed as before, that several of the sub-stations acted simultaneously to close their respective circuits so that their individual indicators at M were not operated. In the device as shown in these figures, the several branches 15, 15', 15", leading from their respective sub-stations as shown in Fig. 1, are each connected to a movable tongue or spring contact 6,

--which springs are mounted in box a and insulated from each other and from said box. Mounted below said spring contacts is a strip contact so, which, similarly to the plug J", is connected to line 19. It should be understood that the present device illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3 is to take the place of the plug J and switch-board I illustrated in Fig. 1. By successively depressing spring contacts against plate .90, the several circuits through 15, 15, 15" are closed in turn in the same manner as was previously done with the plug J The successive depression of the springs b may be accomplished mechanically by the passage of insulated roller 86, shown in Fig. 3. This roller may be carried on a convenient handle Z and guided along a slot A of the box Y so as to roll successively across the ends of the springs b and depress them one after the other into contact with plate 80. An insulated strip 80' is also preferably provided to extend over the upper sides of the springs b for forming a back stop for said springs.

It. is understood that the embodiment of the invention described above is only one of the many embodiments or forms the invention may take, and I do not wish to be limited in the practice of my invention nor in my claims to the particular embodiment described above.

What I claim is 1. A signal apparatus comprising a pair of batteries connected together, a plurality of outlying signals, a plurality of signal lines leading therefrom to a central station, a circuit-opener in each of said lines adapted to be actuated by the current passing in the line, a conductor leadin from each of said signal lines at a point tween its circuit breaker and its outlying signal, a plurality of terminals connected respectively with said last-named conductors, a conductor connecting with said signal lines through said circuit openers and leading to one of said batteries, a return line connccted with said batteries at a point between said batteries and connecting with all of said outlying signals, a receiving instrument, and means for connectin said re- CBlVlIlg instrument with any 0 said terminals to close the circuit through the other battery.

2. signal apparatus comprising in combination a plurality of signal lines leading from a central station, a plurality of outlying circuit-controllers connected each with one of said signal lines, each circuit-controller comprising terminals normally in separated position, means for closing said terminals and thus completing a circuit through its signal line, means actuated by a current assin through such a signal line for brea ing t e said circuit and thus prevent the restoration of said circuit-controller -to normal position, and a separate switching connection for each signal line for completing a circuit therethrough to restore said circuit-controller of that line to normal position.

3. A signal apparatus comprising in combination a plurality of signal lines leading from a central station, a source of current, a plurality of outlying circuit-controllers connected each with one of said signal lines, each controller comprising terminals normally in separated position, means for clos ing sa'id terminals and thus completing a circuit through its respective signal line and said source of current, means actuated by a current assing through such a signal line for brcaii the restoration of said circuit-controller to normal position, and a separate switching connection for each signal line for completing a circuit therethrough from a separate source of current to restore the circuit-controller ofthat line to normal position.

4. A signal ap aratus comprising in combination a plum ity of signal lines leading from a central station, a plurality of outlying circuit-controllers connected each with one of said signal lines, each circuit-controller comprising terminals normally in separated position, means for closing said terminals and thus completing a circuit through its signal line, means actuated by a current passing through such a signal line for breaking the said circuit and thus prevent the restoration of said circuit-controller to normal position, a plurality of annunciators at the central station one for each signal line each annunciator adapted to respond to the operation of the circuit-controller in its respective line, and a separate switching connection for each signal line for completing a circuit therethrough to restore the circuit-controller of that line to normal position.

5. A signal apparatus comprising in combination a plurality of signal lines leading from a central station, a plurality of outlying circuit-controllers connected each with in said circuit and thus prevent.

one of said signal lines, each controller comprising terminals normally in separated position, means for closing said terminals and thus completing a circuit through its respective si nal line, said circuit-controller adapted to be restored to normal position by a current passing therethrough, means actuated by a current passing through such a closed signal line for breaking said circuit and thus prevent the restoration of said circuit-controller to normal position with its terminals separated, and a se arate switching connection for each signa line for completing a circuit therethrough to restore the circuit-controller of that line to normal position.

6. A signal apparatus comprising in combination a plurality of signal lines leading from a central station, a plurality of outlying circuit-controllers connected each with one of said signal lines, each controller comprising a latent signaling instrument having terminals normally in separated position, said signaling instrument adapted to be set in different positions for closing its terminals and to transmit signals depending upon the position set, when restored to normal position, means for setting said signaling instrument in position to close its terminals and thus complete a circuit through its signal line, means actuated by a current passing through such a closed signal line for breaking said circuit and thus prevent .the restoration of said signaling instrument to normal position with its terminals separated, a plurality of annunciators at the central station onefor each signal line, each annunciator adapted to respond to the op eration of the circuit-controller in its respective line, and a separate switching connection for each signal line for completing a circuit therethrough to restore the signaling instrument of that line to normal position.

7. A signal apparatus comprising in combination a plurality of signal lines leading from a central station, a plurality of outlying circuit-controllers connected each with one of said signal lines, each controller comprising a latent signaling instrument having terminals normally in separated position, said signaling instrument adapted to be set in difi'erent positions for closing its terminals and to transmit signals depending upon the position set, when restored to normal position, means for setting said signaling instrument in position to close its terminals and thus complete a circuit through its signal lines, said signaling instrument adapted to be restored to normal position by a current passing therethrough, means actuated by a current passing through such a closed signal line for breaking said circuit and thus prevent the restoration of said signaling instrument to normal position with its terminals separated, a plurality of annunciators at the central station one for each signal line, each annunciator adapted to respond to the operation of the circuitcontroller in its respective line, and a separate switching connection for each signal line for completing a circuit therethrough to restore the signaling instrument of that line to normal position.

8. A signal apparatus comprising in combination a plurality of signal lines leading from a central station, a plurality of outlying circuit-controller's connected each with one of said signal lines, each controller comprising a latent signaling instrument having terminals normally in separated position, said signaling instrument adapted to be set in different positions for closing its terminals and to transmit signals depending upon the position set, when restored to normal position, means for setting said signaling instrument in position to close its terminals and thus complete a circuit through its signal lines, said signaling instrument adapted to be restored to normal position by a current passing therethrough, means actuated by a current passing through such a closed signal line for breaking said circuit and thus prevent the restoration of said signaling instrument to normal position with its terminals separated, a plurality of annunciators at the central station one for each signal line, each annunciator adapted to respond to the operation of the circuitcontroller in its respective line, a receiving instrument at said central station for receiving the signals transmitted by said signaling instrument, a separate switching connection for each signaling line for completing a circuit therethrough and through said receiving instrument whereby said signal is transmitted to said receiving instrument as said signaling instrument is restored to nor mal position.

9. A signal apparatus comprising in combination a plurality of signal lines leading from a central station, a plurality of outlying circuit-controllers connected each with one of said signal lines, each controller comprising a latent signaling instrument having terminals normally in separated position, means for setting said signaling instrument in position to give a. signal and thus complete a circuit through its signal line, means actuated by a current passing through such a closed signal line for break ing said circuit and thus hold said signal instrument in its set position, and a receiver at said central station having separate connections for again closing the broken circuit of any signal line whereby said signal insltrunient is operated to complete its signa s.

10. A signal apparatus comprising in combination a plurality of signal lines leada plurality of outlying circuit-controllers with one of said signal lines, each controllercomprising a latent signaling instrument having terminals normally in separated position, means for setting said signaling in strument in position to give a signal and thus complete a circuit through its signal line, means actuated by a current passing through such a closed signal line for breaking said circuit and thus hold said signal instrument in its set position, a plurality of annnnciators at the central station one for each signal line each annunciator adapted ceiver at said central to respond to the operation of the circuit controller in its respective line, and a restation having separateconnections for again closing the broken circuit of any signal line whereby said signal Instrument is operated to complete its signal;

In witness whereof, I have signed my name in the presence of two witnesses, this 10th day of F ebruary, 1902.

F. BENEDICT HERZOG.

Witnesses: v

EDWARD Y. Pnmnr, DAxmL J. Maumar.

Correction in Letters Patent No. 1,124,617.

It is hereby certified that in Letters Patent No. 1,124,617, granted January 12, 1915; upon the application of Felix Benedict Herzog, of New York, N. Y., for an improvement in Electric Signaling Apparatus and Circuits Therefor, an error appears in the printed specification requiring oorreotion as follows: Page 3, line 46, for the refereneedetter 19* read F and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform tothe record of the case in the Patent Oflice.

Signed and sealed this 2nd day of February, A. D., 1915.

R. F. WHITEHEAD,

Actino Commissioner of Patenta.

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